Hands on with Pokemon Leaf Green/Fire Red

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The brand new Pokemon has hit Japan, and we've got our copies.

By Craig Harris

January 29th marks the day that Pokemon: Fire Red and Pokemon: Leaf Green shipped to stores in Japan. Now, even though these games are simply GBA-ized versions of the 8-bit Game Boy Pokemon: Red Version and Pokemon: Blue Version (Green was released as Blue in the US, believe it or not), the release is significant because the games also launch an absolutely cool peripheral: packaged in with each copy of Pokemon: Fire Red and Pokemon: Leaf Green is a Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter. Absolutely nifty.

The game is entirely in Japanese, and as one person who's not quite up on his Katakana, Hirigana, and Kanji I can't really get a whole lot out of the Pokemon experience with these two games. But I can say that the GBA versions mirror the original Game Boy games; players start their quest up in their bedrooms, and are awarded their choice of three Pokemon to start. The rival takes what's left over and challenges the player to a battle, and here's where it changes slightly: the Professor offers a bit more instruction during this introductory battle, pointing out elements like hit points and experience points, as well as teaching players how to work within the turn-based battle design.

These versions, like all the previous Pokemon games released on Game Boy systems in the past, come in special colored cartridges that have a candy-like sheen. Both versions have the same start-up introduction that leads into the unique title screen; Leaf Green features Venusaur standing in front of blowing leaves, and Fire Red has Charizard looming over a fiery field. Beyond that, the games are pretty much identical to each other, at least cosmetically. In the programming, the games feature their own set of rare and common Pokemon...just like all of the other Pokemon game collections already on the market.

Though the games definitely got a boost in the audio department, Pokemon: Fire Red and Pokemon: Leaf Green didn't receive the same treatment in graphics. The game doesn't feature any of the "neat-o" effects from Ruby or Sapphire, like footprints in sand, or reflections in the water. Perhaps these effects are saved for deeper in the game, but honestly, I'm not holding my breath.

Unfortunately we didn't get far enough in either version to put the new Wireless Adapter to use in battles and trade. It's the biggest addition to the design, and we'll get there eventually. At the very least, we now have two Wireless Adapters to test out upcoming games that will support the device. The first game we've found with support: Digimon Racing

The game's currently available for import now for around fifty bucks, but keep in mind that not only do the games have a heavy language barrier, they won't be able to interface with any North American or European territory versions of Pokemon. Any creatures you catch can only be traded to other Japanese GBA or GameCube Pokemon games. The Wireless Adapter, however, is territory free and can work with any territory GBA game and system.